Frozen Pipe (Page 2): Fortunately, I have a drop light with an incandescent bulb, and that thawed it within an hour.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

John N wrote:

No mention of insulation or replacing with plastic pipe. But I like the alternative thinking. The light bulb (L.E.D.'s aren't going to help here) or the little door.

Fortunately, I have a drop light with an incandescent bulb, and that thawed it within an hour.

rustfarmer

For new construction I try to never put water lines in an outside wall and also make all outside walls 2x6 with better insulation. For old work not possible I know. PEX tube is more forgiving from freezing but some folks say water tastes funny from it. I try to avoid anything that relies on electricity because when the weather is at the worst that is when it may fails too. Insulation works and drip the water from BOTH cold and hot on the worst nights. Frozen plumbing sucks so whatever works for you, go for it.

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

Living in Minnesota with temperatures dropping below -35 presents pipe freeze up problems often. Water pipes should never be put on outside walls. Light bulbs put into enclosed spaces cause fires, especially in old houses.
Heat tape works until the power goes out. Running water sometimes works, (not over the pipes but through the pipes.

What does work is to pact insulation between the outside wall and the pipes. Open the walk and allow warm air to enter the space. Hot towels wrapped around the pipes. Heat tape to thaw frozen pipes.

Frozen pipes cause broken or cracked pipes which causes big damage bills. Do the job correct and in time.

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

Living in Minnesota with temperatures dropping below -35 presents pipe freeze up problems often. Water pipes should never be put on outside walls. Light bulbs put into enclosed spaces cause fires, especially in old houses.
Heat tape works until the power goes out. Running water sometimes works, (not over the pipes but through the pipes.

What does work to pact insulation between the outside wall and the pipes. Open the walk and allow warm air to enter the space. Hot towels wrapped around the pipes. Heat tape to thaw frozen pipes.

Frozen pipes cause broken or cracked pipes which causes big damage bills. Do the job correct and in time.

rustfarmer

YES. As with most things, proper design and care in installation goes a long way toward preventing problems. Remember that ground below a certain depth depending on your climate/location is always about 56 degrees, so If you can go that deep and insulate from there on, no more freezing.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

rustfarmer wrote:

YES. As with most things, proper design and care in installation goes a long way toward preventing problems. Remember that ground below a certain depth depending on your climate/location is always about 56 degrees, so If you can go that deep and insulate from there on, no more freezing.

So I should build an underground bathroom.

lukevaliant Loc: gloucester city,n. j.

yssirk123 wrote:

The upstairs bathroom had pipes next to an exterior wall and and before we fixed it with additional insulation, we had the faucet on a slow drip and when it was really cold we also ran an electric oil-filled radiator at a low setting.

fuminous Loc: Luling, LA... for now...

In Fairbanks, my home, and many others, have two water lines from the main with a circulating pump in between. Water from the main (15' below grade) was always about 40F and conducted enough heat to keep pipes from freezing.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

fuminous wrote:

In Fairbanks, my home, and many others, have two water lines from the main with a circulating pump in between. Water from the main (15' below grade) was always about 40F and conducted enough heat to keep pipes from freezing.

Sounds good. I guess I'm lucky that freezing lines are so rare.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Jerry, I've often told our clients that they should not be concerned about water damage from frozen pipes. They should be concerned about water damage from THAWED pipes..!

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Jerry, insulation doe not create heat. Insulation retards heat transfer because heat travels from the greater temperature to the lesser temperature. We wear an insulated jacket in cold weather to keep the heat of our body from leaving our body at a rate faster than we can generate heat to replace it. If we generate heat faster than our body can remove it, we get overheated, like wearing an insulated jacket and shoveling snow compared to just standing still while out in the cold.

Of course, insulation is a great thing so I am not discounting the need nor the need to seal any crack or crevice that could allow cold air to weep into the wall cavity. My point is that insulation helps hold heat in and not keep cold out. The cold will not flow into heat. Heat will always flow out to the cold.

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

Jerry, you identified the best solution in your opening. Rent. I sold my house 6 years ago and now have no maintenance. I live on a 20 acre lot with woods, hay fields, pastures and small stable. Even better the house was large enough to have a large bedroom, living room bathroom and a small kitchen. Everything we need and nothing we can't live without. Full basement underneath for storage, washers dryers, etc. One of the best decisions I've made in years.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

Another 3ay would be to adjust the float so that water would trickle down the overflow tube.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

sippyjug104 wrote:

Jerry, insulation doe not create heat. Insulation retards heat transfer because heat travels from the greater temperature to the lesser temperature.

Ah, so that's why wrapping myself in fiberglass insulation before I go to bed doesn't really help.

ski Loc: West Coast, USA

Try a heat tape